Recommended Reading List

Recommended Reading List of Prospective Converts under the Auspices of the Network of Regional Batei Din for Conversion in Association with the Rabbinical Council of America and the Beth Din of America

Entries preceded by an asterisk are very strongly recommended. All other entries are suggestions that may be substituted by other works that cover the same general topics, at the prerogative of the individual regional batei din.

General:

*Donin, Hayim, To Be a Jew: A Guide to Jewish Observance in Contemporary Life

*Grunfeld, Isidore, The Sabbath: A Guide to its Understanding and Observance

Kaplan, Aryeh, Shabbos: Day of Eternity

Trau, Daniel Yaakov, Shabbos: Tasting Eternity

Appel, Gershon, The Concise Code of Jewish Law: A Guide to the Observance of Shabbat

The Jewish Holidays:

*Kitov, Eliyahu, The Book of our Heritage (3 volumes)

Kashrus:

Apisdorf, Shimon, Kosher for the Clueless but Curious

*Grunfeld, Dayan, The Dietary Laws

*Wagschal, Saul The New Practical Guide to Kashruth, or Greenwald, Zev, Illustrated Guides to Jewish Law: The Kosher Kitchen, or Rosenberg, Ehud, Meat and Dairy: An illustrated Guide for the Kosher Kitchen

Family Purity:

Kaplan, Aryeh, Waters of Eden: An Exploration of the Concept of Mikvah : Renewal and Rebirth

*Lamm, Norman, A Hedge of Roses: Jewish Insights into Marriage and Married Life

Schostak, Zev, The Consice Guide to Jewish Family Laws or Sprung, Yaakov, Foundations: the Laws of Family Purity, or Wagschal, Saul, Taharas and Kedushas Am Yisroel: A Guide to the Laws of Taharas Hamishpacha (less Hebrew)

Life Cycle Events:

Kaplan, Aryeh, Made in Heaven: A Jewish Wedding Guide

Kitov, Eliyahu, A Jew and His Home

*Lamm, Maurice, The Jewish Way in Death and Mourning

*Lamm, Maurice, The Jewish Way in Love and Marriage

Life Cycle Events:

Wein, Berel, Crash Course in Jewish History (tapes or CD’s), or Triumph of the Spirit: The Story of the Jews 1650-1990, Herald of Destiny: The Story of the Jews 750-1650, Echoes of Glory: The Story of the Jews in the Classical Era, 350 BCE-750 CE